Method and apparatus for making bags

ABSTRACT

A machine and method for making bags is described and includes a web, traveling from an input section to a rotary drum, to an output section. The rotary drum includes at least one seal bar, having a first sealing zone, and an adjacent weakening zone. The weakening zone may be a heated perforator, includes a heating wire, or be disposed to create an auxiliary sealed area. The heating wire can have, connected thereto, a source of power that is at an adjustable voltage or magnitude, and/or pulsed, and/or a feedback loop. The heating wire may be an NiCr wire and make intermittent contact with the web and be disposed in an insert. The weakening zone may create a line of weakness that is uniform or varies in intensity, is a separating zone, or includes a heat film, a toothed blade, a row of pins, a source of air, or a source of vacuum. The sealing zones may include temperature zones, cartridge heaters, cooling air, or heated air, or a source of ultrasonic, microwave or radiative energy.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the art of bag making. Morespecifically, it relates to bag making machines and a bag making methodthat create bags from a film or web and form seals and perforations or aline of weakness separating adjoining bags made from the web.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many know bag machines. One style is a rotary drum machine.Rotary drum machines are well known, and a detailed description may befound in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,117,058, 4,934,993, 5,518,559, 5,587,032 and4,642,084 (each of which is hereby incorporated by reference).

A detailed description of the operation of rotary bag machines may befound in the patents above, but their general operation may be see withrespect to FIG. 1. A prior art rotary bag machine 100 continuouslyprocesses a web 201 using a dancer assembly 203, a pair of drum-in rolls205 and 206 (203-206 are part of an input section), a sealing drum 208,a pair of drum-out rolls 210 and 211, a sealing blanket 213, a pair ofknife-in rolls 215 and 216, a knife 218 (which could be any other webprocessing device such as a perforator, knife, die cutter, punchingstation, or folding station), a pair of knife-out rolls 219 and 220(210-220 are part of an output section), and a controller 221. Inputsection, as used herein, includes the portion of a bag machine where theweb is received, such as an unwind and a dancer assembly. Outputsection, as used herein, includes assemblies that act on a webdownstream of the seals being formed, such as perforators, winders,folders, etc.

The web is provided through dancer assembly 203 to drum 208. Drum 208includes a plurality of seal bars 209. The seals bars are heated andcreate the seals forming the bags from web 201. Web 201 is held againstdrum 208 (and the seals bars) by a Teflon® coated blanket. The distancebetween seals created by the drum is related to the bag length (for bagsformed end to end) or the bag width (for bags formed by making sideseals). End to end bags are formed with one seal from the drum, and sideto side bags are formed with a pair of seals. The drum diameter may beadjusted and/or less than all of the seal bars turned on to determinethe distance between seals, and hence bag size.

Generally, rotary motion machines registers a downstream rotary knife toperforate between two seals, or beside a seal. Variations due totension, film gauge variation, machine variations etc., occasionallycauses seals to get cut off.

The prior art of FIG. 1 provides that after web 201 leaves drum 208 itis directed to rotary knife 218, which creates a perforation betweenbags, or could separate adjoining bags. When the bags are end to endbags the perforation is placed close to the single seal such that whenthe bags are separated, the perforation and the perforated end is thetop of one bag, and the seal is the bottom of the adjoining bag.Ideally, the perforation is close to the seal to reduce waste, althoughthis is difficult in practice. When bags are formed side to side, theperforation is made between the pair of seals. A seal is needed on bothsides of the perforation, since the side of both bags should be sealed:The web between the pair of seals is wasted. Thus, the pair of sealsshould be close to one another to reduce waste, although this is alsodifficult in practice.

Controller 221 is connected to the various components to control speed,position, etc. Sensors may be used to sense print on the web to form theseals and/or register the perforation (place it in the correct locationwith respect) to the seal. Also, sensors may detect seals to try andcreate the perforation in the correct location. Sensing the seal hasproven to be difficult. One prior art example of a system that sensedseals is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,792,807, hereby incorporated byreference. If the perforation is placed too close to one side seal, thenthe seal may be cut off, rendering the bag useless.

Because sensing the seal is difficult, much waste is generated in bagmaking, or bags are ruined. The wasted web, (i.e. the web between a sealand the adjacent perforation), or the web used to make the ruined bag,can be very costly, particularly for high speed bag machines where thenumber of bags made per hour is great.

Another problem of prior art machines is that perforations may be skewedwith respect to the seals, because the perforations are createddownstream, and the web can wander or stretch. Also, a mechanicalperforation knife must be adjusted every few days to continue to performproperly. Generally, sharp mechanical knives cannot be adjusted tochange the perforation strength, and they can be costly, complex, anddifficult to use.

Other type of bag machines, such as intermittent motion machines (notrotary drum machines) use burn off seals to seal and cut or perforate atthe same time but speed is limited to about 300 fpm due to thereciprocating motion, dwell time, and difficulty handling the loosebags. Other intermittent motion machines, such as the CMD Icon, haveseal bars with an integral toothed blade. The CMD CM300 machine hasoscillating motion to move seal bars that have an integral toothedblade. Generally, intermittent motion machines are not as fast as rotarydrum continuous machines, and thus produce far fewer bags per machinehour.

Accordingly, a method and machine for making bags that enhances theability to locate the perforations close to the seals is desirable.Preferably this can be done without a downstream knife, to avoidproblems associated therewith. Also, this is preferably done on acontinuous motion machine, to avoid the slowness and difficultiesassociate with intermittent machines.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A bag machine, according to a first aspect of the invention, includes aninput section, a rotary drum, and an output section, wherein a webtravels from the input section, to the rotary drum, to the outputsection. The rotary drum includes at least one seal bar which has afirst sealing zone and a weakening zone adjacent the first sealing zone.

The weakening zone is a heated perforator, and/or includes a heatingwire, and/or disposed to create an auxiliary sealed area adjacent aperforation, according to various embodiments.

The heating wire has, connected thereto, a source of power that is at anadjustable voltage or magnitude, and/or pulsed, and/or a feedback loopis provided in other embodiments.

The heating wire is a nickel chromium resistance wire, preferably about80% nickel and about 20% chromium, and/or disposed to be makeintermittent contact with the web, and/or has a resistance of about 4ohms/ft, and/or disposed in an insert inserted between the sealing zonesin various embodiments.

The insert is comprised of glass mica and/or has a plurality of holesdisposed along a line in the cross direction in other embodiments.

The weakening zone is disposed to create a line of weakness that variesin intensity, and/or is a separating zone, and/or includes a heat film,and/or includes a toothed blade, and/or includes a row of pins, and/orincludes a source of air directed at the web, and/or includes a sourceof vacuum in various embodiments.

The toothed blade is retractable in accordance with another embodiment.

The seal bars have a second sealing zone such that the weakening zone isadjacent and between the first and second sealing zones in anotherembodiment. The distance in the machine direction from center to centerof the first and second sealing zones is less than about 0.01, 0.1; and0.30 inches in other embodiments.

The first and second sealing zones include a plurality of independentlycontrolled temperature zones capable of making side seals and tapeseals, and/or include cartridge heaters with a plurality of heat zones,and/or include a source of air disposed to cool at least a portion ofthe first and second sealing zones, and/or include at least one port fordirecting heated air to the web, and/or include at least one of a sourceof ultrasonic energy, microwave energy, and/or of radiative heat invarious embodiments.

A sealing blanket is disposed to hold the web against the rotary drumand may be made of polyester material with a silicone layer thatcontacts the web in other embodiments.

The rotary drum has an adjustable diameter in another embodiment.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a bag is made byreceiving a web, forming a first seal on the web using a seal bar on arotary drum, and forming a weakened area adjacent the first seal. Theweakened area is formed during at least a portion of the time the firstseal is being formed.

The weakened area is formed for less than the time the first seal isbeing formed, and formed for about half the time the first seal is beingformed in various embodiments.

Forming a weakened area includes, forming a consistently weak line,and/or forming a perforation, and/or forming a line of weakness thatvaries in intensity, and/or separating adjoining bags, and/or applying avacuum to the web, and/or directing air at the web in other embodiments.

Forming a perforation includes heating a wire, and/or using a heat film,and/or contacting the web with a toothed blade that may or may not beretracted after the perforation is formed; and/or contacting the webwith a row of pins, and/or forming an auxiliary seal adjacent theperforation in various embodiments.

The wire has power applied thereto at an adjustable voltage, and/or thatis pulsed in other embodiments.

A signal indicative of heat in the wire is monitored and the powerapplied is controlled in response thereto in various embodiments.

A second seal is formed such that the weakened area is adjacent andbetween the first and second seals in another embodiment. The distancefrom center to center of the first and second seals in the machinedirection is less than about 0.50, 0.3, 0.1 and 0.01 inches in variousembodiments.

The first and second seals have a plurality of independently controlledtemperature zones, and/or are cooled, and/or are formed using ultrasonicenergy, microwave energy, and/or radiative heat in various embodiments.

According to a third aspect of the invention a perforator for a rotarybag machine is an insert for a rotary drum including a weakening zone.It may or may not be retrofitted to existing machines.

Other principal features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the followingdrawings, the detailed description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is bag machine in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 2 is rotary drum in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an end view of a seal bar in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a seal bar in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is an end view of a seal bar in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is an end view of a seal bar in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a seal bar in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is an end view of a seal bar in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a seal bar in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is an end view of a seal bar in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a seal bar in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is an end view of a seal bar in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is an end view of a seal bar in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 is a side view of a seal bar in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is a segment of a side view of a seal bar in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 16 is a segment of a side view of a seal bar in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 17 is a part of an insert in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a part of an insert in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a part of an insert in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a part of an insert in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a part of an insert in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a part of an insert in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a part of an insert in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a seal bar in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 25 is a side view of a seal bar in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 26 is a part of an insert in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a side view of the insert of FIG. 26; and

FIG. 28 is a seal and weakened zone in accordance with the presentinvention.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and the arrangement of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Theinvention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced orcarried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. Like referencenumerals are used to indicate like components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the present invention will be illustrated with reference to aparticular bag machine, it should be understood at the outset that theinvention can also be implemented with other machines, and using othercomponents. Bag machine, as used herein, includes a machine used to makebags such as draw tape bags, non-draw tape bags, and other bags. Anyinput section (unwinds and dancers, e.g.) and any output section(winders, folders, e.g.) may be used with the present invention.

Generally, the present invention provides for a rotary bag machine withan input section, a drum section, and an output section. A perforationor line of weakness is formed on the rotary drum, for at least part ofthe time the seal is being formed. For example, on a rotary bag machinethe web might be in contact with the drum for about one-half of the drumcycle, and the perforator formed in one quarter of the drum cycle. Theseal bar includes a sealing zone and applies heat as the drum rotates,thus forming the seal. Seal bars, as used herein, includes an assembly,such as on a rotary drum, that applies heat to and seals the web, andthe mounting mechanisms, perforators, etc. Sealing zone, as used herein,includes the portion of a seal bar that creates the seal.

The seal bars can have independently controlled temperature zones, forexample for applying more heat to a draw tape portion of a side seal.Independently controlled temperature zones, as used herein, includestemperature zones along a sealing zone that can be controlled or causedto be different temperatures.

A perforator or weakening zone can be mounted on the seal bar, forexample as part of an insert. The weakening zone can create aperforation or weakened area as the seal is being formed. Theperforation can be created with heat, radiation, or by mechanicalcontact. Weakening zone, as used herein, includes the portion of a sealbar that creates a weakened area. Weakened area, as used herein,includes an area on the web which is weakened, such as by a perforationor a portion of the web being melted or burned off.

The insert can alternatively include a separating zone for separatingadjoining bags. This typically requires more heat than weakening orperforating. Separating zone, as used herein, includes the portion of aseal bar that separates adjoining bags.

If the bag is a side seal bag, made with a pair of seals, the perforatoris preferably disposed adjacent and between the pair of sealing zones.Adjacent, as used herein, includes being mounted with or close to.Between the sealing zones, as used herein, means the region, on a singleseal bar assembly, between two heated seal tips.

Thus, the perforation is located consistently and correctly next to theseal. Less film is wasted because the distance between the pair of sideseals is less. While typical prior bag machines have one inch betweenside seals, the preferred embodiment provides about 0.5 inches, morepreferably 0.3 inches, and most preferably as little as about 0.01inches between side seals. About, as used herein, includes a magnitudebeing close enough to a given value to function substantially the sameas if the magnitude were the given value.

The perforator replaces a downstream perforator that needed to bereadjusted every few days with an insert that does not need readjusting,although it might need to be replaced (such as monthly). Insert, as usedherein with reference to a seal bar, includes an assembly mounted on orwith the seal bar that is in addition to the sealing zone that createsthe seal or seals.

A wide variety of perforators can be used, such as a heating wire, heatfilm, toothed blades, etc. Heat film, as used herein, includes a filmused to apply heat to a specific area. The perforation strength may beadjusted by controlling the amount of heat (or pressure) applied at theperforator. The perforation may be clearly defined, a line of weakness,or a line of weakness that varies in intensity. Line of weakness thatvaries in intensity, as used herein, includes varying web strength alonga line or curve, such as a perforation or such as a line where the webis not removed, but alternates between low and higher strength regions.

Using a heated perforator can advantageously create an auxiliary sealedarea at the edge of the perforation or line of weakness. Heatedperforator, as used herein, includes a device that uses thermal energyto perforate, through contact, convection, conduction or radiative heat.Heating wire, as used herein, is a wire used to heat, such as by passingelectrical current therethrough. Auxiliary sealed area, as used herein,includes a sealed area formed by forming a perforation using heat. Theedges of the perforation may include a strip where the web is sealed.This is in addition to the web being sealed by a distinct sealing zone.Radiative heat, as used herein, includes heat in the form ofelectromagnetic radiation, ultrasonic radiation, thermal radiation, etc.

The heated perforator may include a wire in intermittent contact withthe web, to create the perforation pattern. Intermittent contact betweenthe web and a sealing or perforating element, as used herein, includesthe web being in contact with the element at some locations and not incontact at other locations, such as contact and no contact alternationsalong a cross-machine direction line.

One embodiment provides for retrofitting existing machines by placing aninsert on existing seal bars, or by replacing seal bars with seal barsdesigned to have a weakening zone, such as with an insert.

The blanket may be blankets such as those found in the prior art,although the preferred embodiment includes a blanket that is a Habisit®Silicone Belt, consisting of 2-ply polyester material with ⅛″ groundsilicone top cover with an endless length. Other blankets, preferablyable to handle the high intermittent temperatures (600-800 F.) that canbe reached while burning a perforation and that have good releasecharacteristics so the film does not stick to the belting, arecontemplated in various embodiments, and may be Teflon®), silicon,hybrids, etc.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a drum 200 consistent with the present inventionis shown. Drum 200 includes four seal bars 229, and a blanket 230 thatholds a web or film against drum 200 and seal bars 229. Drum 200operates generally as the prior art drum, but seal bars 229 include aperforator.

Drum 200 is preferably one similar to the CMD 1270GDS Global DrawtapeSystem® and has approximately 0.5 seconds of seal dwell time at 600 fpmand has an adjustable diameter to easily change product repeat lengths.It has 4 seal bars equally spaced around the circumference that spanacross a 50″ web width. This drum can be used for making trash canliners or garbage bags, for example. Other drums could consist of moreor less seal bars, larger or smaller diameter, or narrower or wider webwidths.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an end view of a seal bar 229 is shown. Sealbar 229 extends the width of the drum, and includes two sealing zones302 and 304, a cartridge heater 310, and a thermocouple 308. An insert306 that includes a perforator is mounted on seal bar 300.

Seal bar 300 preferably has a uniform temperature range across a givenwidth of a web, with an independently controlled temperature zone at theedge for making a side seal while simultaneously making a tape seal withbar 401. Cartridge heater 310 is a custom wound heat zone such as thoseavailable from Watlow® or Thermal Corp. in the preferred embodiment. Thetemperature profile for specific or different temperature settingcombinations (desirable especially on thin films) may be controlledusing compressed air cooling of hot zones, as described below. Aircooling is also used for isolating different temperature zones which arelocated next to each other but are set at greatly different temperaturessuch as 300 F. (bar 304) for side seals but 450 F. (bar 401) for tapeseals, in various embodiments.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a side view of seal bar 229 is shown. Seal bar229 includes, in the preferred embodiment, a first temperature zone 401for a draw tape seal and a second temperature 402 for making a sideseal. Temperature zone 402 may include multiple temperature zones 403,404 and 405.

One alternative embodiment provides for seal bars that form side sealsonly, with no drawtape seal zone. Another embodiment, provides for aseal bar that makes a bottom seal with only one seal (the perforationpreferably does not have an auxiliary seal in this embodiment). FIG. 5is an end view of a seal bar 500 that has a single sealing zone 501 thatmakes a total burn-off cut to separate adjoining bags. A weakening zonemay be mounted to seal bar 500 to form a weakened area. The weakeningzone may be made as described herein with respect to side sealarrangements.

FIG. 6 (end view) and FIG. 7 (side view) show a seal bar 600 that has asingle sealing zone 601 that makes a total burn-off cut with perforationnotches 701 cut in the tip. The seal bars and heaters therein may becomprised of different material in various embodiments, such as atubular heater cast in aluminum (available from Watlow®).

Cartridge heater 310 is replaced with a flexible silicone rubber heater901 and 903, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in another embodiment. Heaters901 and 903 are held on the sides of an aluminum bar using pressuresensitive adhesive (available from Watlow®).

An alternative seal bar 1000 is shown in FIGS. 10 (end view) and 11(side view). Seal bar 1000 includes nickel chromium resistance orheating wires (Ni—Cr wires) 1001 and 1002, connected to a DC or AC powersupply 1005. The wires can be separate wires with separate powersupplies, parallel wires, or series segments of a wire. Power to thewire may be on constantly, pulsed on and off, or have an otherwisevarying power level. Proper timing of the pulses allows the seals tocool prior to where the web leaves the drum, for easier separation ofthe web from the seal bar.

Another embodiment is seal bar 1200, shown in FIG. 12 (end view). Sealbar 1200 seals using focused infrared light, and includes light sources1202 and 1204, reflectors 1206 and 1208, and glass strips 1210 and 1212.The surface of glass strips 1210 and 1212 are preferably coated withTeflon® or a similar release agent.

Laser or focused light directed with a moving or pivoting mirror or lensis used on other embodiments. The laser can be positioned in the centerof drum 200, and a pivoting mirror (or a linear actuator) can be used todirect the laser light through a glass seal bar at the periphery of thedrum (again, the glass can be coated for easier release). The seal barcan have a continuous line of glass for forming seals, and alternatingintermittent regions of opaque and clear for creating perforations.

Another alternative seal bar 1300 is shown in FIG. 13 (end view) andFIG. 14 (side view). Seal bar 1300 uses compressed air provided throughpipes 1301 and 1302. A plurality of ports 1305 terminate in a pair ofgrooves 1307 and 1308 in the surface of sealing zones 302 and 304. Otheralternatives use ultrasonic, microwave, or radiation heating of the web.

Insert 306 has, in the preferred embodiment, a Ni—Cr wire woven into ashape that produces intermittent contact with the web. The Ni—Cr wire ispulsed on for the first half of the dwell time (the time the web isagainst the seal bar) and allowed to cool the second half of the dwelltime so the perforations are non-molten when the web separates from theperforator. This allows a stronger web, reduces film sticking to thewire, and eliminates the chance of the perforation melting shut.

Referring now to FIG. 15, a side view of a segment of insert 306 isshown, and, in the preferred embodiment, is a 0.12 inch thick machinableglass-mica ceramic (available from McMaster/Carr) with a row of holes1501, that are alternately spaced 0.25″ and 0.12″ apart, along the 50inch length of insert 306. The holes have a diameter of 0.06 inches. Aresistance or heating wire 1502 comprised of about 80% nickel and 20%chromium, 0.013″ diameter, 4 ohms/ft, annealed soft (available fromPelican Wire Co.), is woven through the pattern of holes such that thegreater length is on the web facing surfacing top, and the shorterlength (between holes) is on the opposite surface. Wire 1502 isflattened to lay against the mica, and the holes are rounded to reducewire stress. High temperature (650 degree F.) flexible silicone caulk isapplied to fill holes and air gaps around the wire (available from NAPA765-1203 PTEX HI-T). This reduces wire hot spots and allows wire 1502 toexpand and contract each cycle. The preferred embodiment uses a wovendesign to reduce the need for large wire tensioners that would be usedin alternative designs because a 50″ long wire would expand 0.38″ everycycle. A glass mica layer 0.03 inches thick (not shown) is applied tothe bottom (the side not facing the web) of insert 306 to insulate thewire from the aluminum housing. Preferably insert 306 is sized to fitinto existing seal bar designs. An adjustable DC or AC power sourceprovides a pulse of power for the first half of the dwell time in thepreferred embodiment.

One alternative designs is shown in FIG. 16, where insert 306 has wire1502 pushed into a series of cavities in the mica glass insert 306. Thecavities extend the 50 inch length of insert 306, and are disposed every0.25 inches, with a 0.12 inch diameter. The cavities are filled withflexible silicone caulk.

Another embodiment of the invention includes an insert 2600, shown inFIG. 26, and includes a separate heat zone 2601, such as for heating adraw tape region. Various embodiments provide for region 2601 to be usedwith or without a perforation that extends across the film (theperforation could cross a drawtape, and the seal could extend the widthof the film, e.g.). Within region 2601, a 0.020 in. mica layer (or aGlastherm HT® layer) 2603 is provided. A NiCr wire is disposed in aseries of cavities or holes (as in FIG. 16). The holes are located every0.312 inches, and have a 0.030 in. diameter in region 2601. The insertis 0.25 inches wide, and the seals (between which the perforation ismade) are 0.5 inches apart.

The side view of insert 2600, shown in FIG. 27, shows a NiCr wire 2701disposed in the holes in region 2601. The wire preferably has a 0.0089in. diameter in region 2601. Wire 2701 is serially connected to a 0.0126NiCr wire 2703 (using a crimp 2705). The larger wire requires largerholes (0.062 in. in the preferred embodiment). The wire sizes can bechosen to select the wire resistance, and thus the heat provided. Wire2703 is soldered to and/or wrapped around a preferably silver pin to beconnected to a high temperature wire 2707.

The NiCr wire may be turned on and off (current flow) to controltemperature of the wire/sealing. For example, the wire may be turned onimmediately after contacting the film (or blanket), and turned offimmediately after the contact with the film (or blanket) ends.Alternatives include connections other than serial between wires 2701and 2703, more heat zones (and wire connections/types), controlling heatwith external resistors/potentiometers or current magnitude, such aswith PWM. If a pot is used the user could adjust the relativetemperature by adjusting the pot. Other embodiments includes combiningthese features, or other on/off schemes. This and other embodiments maybe used with any other bag where a perforation needs to be placed nextto a seal, such as t-shirt bags, including reinforced t-shirt bags, drawtape bags, side seal bags, etc.

The blanket preferably has a 0.05-0.012 in. thick silicone rubber topsurface with a matte finish, durometer 70-90 Shore A, initially seasonedwith a talc powder. The wire may be held in the holes using a Resbond®high temperature adhesive, injected into the holes using a syringe. Hardor flexible adhesives, or both, alternating, e.g.) may be used. Flexibleadhesives allow the wire to flex, which can occur when it is heated andcooled. The insert may be held in place with five cone point set screws.

Another alternative is shown in FIG. 17, where wire 1502 is spirallywound about a 0.06″ ceramic rod 1701 and bonded with flexible siliconecaulk, everywhere except where wire 1502 touches the web.

Other alternatives are shown in FIGS. 18-22 and include a straight wire1502 across the width of the web but making cold spots on wire 1502 withcopper coated portions 1801. FIG. 19 shows a design where cold spots arecreated with areas 1901 of backing materials of different heatconduction rate. FIG. 20 shows a design where cold spots are createdwith notched recesses 2001. FIG. 21 shows a design where cold spots arecreated with air cooling of intermittent spots through ports 2101. FIG.22 shows a design where cold spots are created with thin straps 2201over wire 1502.

Other alternatives provide for wire 1502 to be round, a rectangularribbon, straight or woven at a uniform or varying pitch, uniformthickness or non-uniform thickness along their length (to createhot/cold spots), Toss® wire, tapered, or profiled to make two side sealsbetween a burn off cut. Profiled wire may have intermittent copperplating to perforate rather than clean cut. Varying pitch for a wovenwire or different hole spacing creates a weakened area of varyingweakness, that allows the bag to be torn by hand easier at the edge thanin the middle of the web. Other designs contemplated include flexiblesilicone rubber heaters, thick film heating technology, sinteredceramic, or the like available from Watlow Electric Manufacturing Co.Yet other alternatives include using thin film heating technologymounted on a PNEUSEAL™ rubber inflatable diaphragm that can stay hot allthe time but physically move in and out of contact with the film byinflating and deflating the diaphragm.

Other alternatives includes a wire that is constantly hot but isphysically moved in and out of contact with the web during the sealdwell phase. Hot wire segments (stitches) could be connected to a powersource in parallel or in series. Parallel is preferred to reduce theamount of current required. Hot wires are preferably potted into areplaceable insert that can be easily replaced in the field and massproduced. Hot wires could be coated with substance to improve releasecharacteristics.

Alternative perforators include a toothed blade 2301 (see FIG. 23) thatpenetrates the sealing blanket. In one embodiment the sealing blanket iskept in phase with the perforator to avoid damage to the blanket in thearea where seals occur. The toothed blade may be extended all the timeor extend and retract each cycle (driven by spring, pneumatics, or cam).One alternative is to use a row of pins rather than a row of teeth. Avacuum chamber is preferably used to suck the film onto a row of pins sothe pins do not need to penetrate the blanket. The knife backingmaterial may be a silicone blanket, Teflon® blanket, silicone roller,brush roller, short section of silicone belting, or a series of softrollers. The knife may perforate prior to the seal dwell area.

Another alternative is to use hot compressed air jets 2402 (FIG. 24)that receive air from a pipe 2401, and are disposed in an array to meltand blow a row of hole perforations. The air source is cold in oneembodiment, and the air is heated by focused infrared light, radiation,convection, or conduction. Other alternatives includes sucking the filmonto or over a sharp object, projecting a small solid particle or liquidparticle at the web to create a hole or pattern of holes, a linearnotched rotary “pizza cutter” blade moving across web cutting against asealing belt or metal belt/band, a straight edge knife mounted in ornext to the seal bar provided with a fixed anvil outside the drum usedas a shear cut or a flex blade type knife assembly.

The preferred embodiment controls the heat of a burn-perf wire bycontrolling the voltage of a DC circuit. Preferably the lowest voltagethat provides an acceptable perforation is used. For example, a 0.013″diameter 80/20 Ni—Cr wire woven alternating between 0.25 inch in contactwith the web and 0.12 inches below the mica requires approximately 20watts per inch of web width to burn perforations in 0.75 mil LLDPE filmtwo layers thick at 600 feet per minute. Thus, a 2 inch long perforatorwould use 10 volts pulsed on for about 0.25 seconds as soon as the filmis sandwiched between the perforator and the seal blanket. With a 0.5second dwell time, the perforation has about 0.25 seconds to cool. Thepreferred embodiment thus allows the perforation to be quickly heatedand cool down. The adjustable voltage is supplied by a DC motorcontroller in the preferred embodiment. Other embodiments includes amechanical rheostat, potentiometer, or adjustable resistor. Anadjustable AC voltage can alternatively be used.

A controller may be used to compensate for resistance changes over thelife of the wire. For example, a Toss® controller has current sensingfeedback and adjusts voltage accordingly to maintain a more consistenttemperature. Cartridge heaters may be controlled with thermocouplefeedback using PID temperature control, as is well known in theindustry.

The preferred embodiment provides for consistent incoming tension andconsistent incoming accumulation to consistently form seals andperforations. The preferred embodiment includes a servo infeed nip withultrasonic accumulation loop feedback. Alternatives includes amechanical lay-on roll assembly. Static induction pinning is used tohelp the film lay flat against the sealing blanket.

A tension zone isolator nip, also called a chill roll nip., is used asthe web exits the sealing drum area. The preferred embodiment uses a 2″wide double groove diamond shape is cut into the face of the roll toallow minor air bubbles or wrinkles to flush out rather than build upahead of the nip.

After leaving the drum the web is provided to folding boards. Hard-boardfiller plates with ¼ diameter holes 3″ from the tip of standard V-boardwith symmetrical geometry near the tip of the V-board are provided toreduce tension surges due to wrinkles or air entrapment. Also,transporting the folded web over two idlers before going through arubber nip and an additional ¼ thick air relief blade is insertedbetween film layers just prior to the rubber nip to allow air to bleedout rather than getting trapped inside wrinkles.

Air cooling of hot zones, briefly referred to above, generally includesports or channels in seal bar, for example created by drilling ormachining, to allow compressed air to flow through a desired zone orzones. FIG. 25 shows seal bar 229 with a plurality of ports 2501 and aplurality of valves 2502. Thus, the amount of compressed air that flowsthrough each zone is controlled by valves 2502. Air cooling could alsobe used for isolating different temperature zones which are locatedright next to each other but are set at greatly different temperaturessuch as 300 F. for side seals but 450 F. for tape seals. As with manyfeature disclosed herein, the air cooling can be practiced withoutpracticing other features of the invention, such as without insert 306.

Another embodiment provides for using a single seal bar, with aperforation within the seal. Referring now to FIG. 28, a seal zone 2800is delineated by dashed lines 2803 and 2805 (the lines do not appear onthe actual product, but indicate where the sealed zone ends). The sealbar can include a wire, such as in the embodiments described above, thatcreates holes 2807, extending across the film, and creating a weakenedzone. The holes may be linear, or randomly placed. In either case, aseal that includes a perforation is formed. Adjacent bags may beseparated along the seal by tearing. The perforation may be a line, orthough out the sealed zone. Other embodiments include simply creating aperforation (without the seal, or with partial seals), on the drum.

The single seal/perforation may be created using a contoured seal bar, aprevious embodiment with the temperature controlled to burn through inplaces, fine fabric impression (bumpy or textured) blanket, such as aHabasit®) WBVT-136 silcone rubber blanket, where the pressure of the“bumps” burns through the plastic.

Another embodiment provides for the seal and perforation to be formedtogether on a non-circular loop, such as an oval or oblong, or on ashuttle machine. generally, the invention of these embodiments call forthe creation of a seal when and where a perforation is created.

Numerous modifications may be made to the present invention which stillfall within the intended scope hereof. Thus, it should be apparent thatthere has been provided in accordance with the present invention amethod and apparatus for making bags that fully satisfies the objectivesand advantages set forth above. Although the invention has beendescribed in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it isevident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will beapparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended toembrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fallwithin the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A bag machine,comprising: an input section; a rotary drum, disposed to receive a webfrom the input section, wherein the rotary drum includes at least oneseal bar; and an output section, disposed to receive the web from therotary drum; wherein the at least one seal bar includes a first sealingzone, and further includes a weakening zone adjacent the first sealingzone; and wherein the weakening zone is a heated perforator thatincludes a heating wire that is disposed to make intermittent contactwith the web when the web is threaded into the bag machine, wherein theintermittent contact includes contact and no contact alternations alonga cross-machine direction line.
 2. The bag machine of claim 1, furthercomprising a source of power at an adjustable voltage connected to theheating wire.
 3. The bag machine of claim 2, further comprising afeedback loop connected to the heating wire and the source of power. 4.The bag machine of claim 1, further comprising a source of pulsed powerconnected to the heating wire.
 5. The bag machine of claim 1, whereinthe heating wire is a nickel chromium resistance wire.
 6. The bagmachine of claim 1, wherein the heating wire is disposed in an insertdisposed adjacent the first sealing zone.
 7. The bag machine of claim 6,wherein the insert is comprised of glass mica and has a plurality ofholes disposed along a line in the cross direction.
 8. The bag machineof claim 7, wherein the heating wire is comprised of about 80% nickeland about 20% chromium, and has a resistance of about 4 ohms/ft.
 9. Thebag machine of claim 1, wherein the weakening zone is disposed to createa line of weakness that varies in intensity.
 10. The bag machine ofclaim 1, wherein the weakening zone is a separating zone.
 11. The bagmachine of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable source of powerconnected to the heating wire.
 12. The bag machine of claim 1, whereinthe heated perforator is disposed to create an auxiliary sealed areaadjacent a perforation.
 13. The bag machine of claim 1, wherein the atleast one seal bar further includes a second sealing zone, disposed suchthat the weakening zone is adjacent and between the first and secondsealing zones.
 14. The bag machine of claim 13, wherein the distance inthe machine direction from center to center of the first and secondsealing zones is less than about 01.inches.
 15. The bag machine of claim13, wherein the distance in the machine direction from center to centerof the first and second sealing zones is less than about 0.30 inches.16. The bag machine of claim 13 wherein the first and second sealingzones include a plurality of independently controlled temperature zonescapable of making side seals and tape seals.
 17. The bag machine ofclaim 13 wherein the first and second sealing zones bar includecartridge heaters with a plurality of heat zones.
 18. The bag machine ofclaim 13 further comprising a source of air disposed to cool at least aportion of the first and second sealing zones.
 19. The bag machine ofclaim 13, wherein the first and second sealing zones includes at leastone port for directing heated air to the web.
 20. The bag machine ofclaim 13, wherein the first and second sealing zones include at leastone of a source of ultrasonic energy, a source of microwave energy, anda source of radiative heat.
 21. The bag machine of claim 1, furthercomprising a sealing blanket disposed to hold the web against the rotarydrum and comprised of polyester material with a silicone layer that isdisposed to contact the web.